• Rendering of the Hindu Temple under construction in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Rendering of the Hindu Temple under construction in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • Rendering of the Hindu temple planned for Jebel Ali. Trustees said the shrine would include 11 deities. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Rendering of the Hindu temple planned for Jebel Ali. Trustees said the shrine would include 11 deities. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • Rendering of the Hindu Temple under construction in Jebel Ali. The temple has been designed to be modern and contemporary. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Rendering of the Hindu Temple under construction in Jebel Ali. The temple has been designed to be modern and contemporary. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • Construction under way at the Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali. The temple is scheduled to open in time for Diwali this October. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Construction under way at the Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali. The temple is scheduled to open in time for Diwali this October. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • A rendering of ground floor banquet hall in the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    A rendering of ground floor banquet hall in the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • Construction under way at the site of the Jebel Ali Hindu temple in August. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Construction under way at the site of the Jebel Ali Hindu temple in August. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • A rendering of first floor player hall. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    A rendering of first floor player hall. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • Construction under way at the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali. The foundation stone ceremony was held in August last year. Courtesy: Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Construction under way at the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali. The foundation stone ceremony was held in August last year. Courtesy: Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • Construction under way at the Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali. The temple is scheduled to open in time for Diwali this October. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    Construction under way at the Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali. The temple is scheduled to open in time for Diwali this October. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • A rendering of first floor player hall of the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    A rendering of first floor player hall of the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
  • A rendering of ground floor banquet hall, The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali
    A rendering of ground floor banquet hall, The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali. Courtesy: The Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali

First look at Dubai's new Hindu temple


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

Related: First glimpse on site as Abu Dhabi’s Hindu temple takes shape

A modern, contemporary Hindu temple with earthy tones, lattice screens and a large skylight is under construction in Dubai’s Jebel Ali.

Trustees said the shrine, with 11 Hindu deities, would be ready by Diwali in October next year.

The main shikhar, or spire, rises to a height of 24 metres and the glass-shaded skylight is ringed with six additional spires.

Sunlight will stream in through the octagonal-shaped skylight on to the prayer area that can hold 1,500 worshippers.

We have tried to create a feel of serenity and calmness when you come to prayer

Large bells suspended from the dome will drop into the expansive hall.

The 465-square-metre prayer room will open up to a terrace for pujas – or ceremonies – where devotees can pray around a fire.

The terrace and the facade will be partially covered with mashrabiya designs inspired from Arabic architecture.

"This is not one of your classical temples, it is a contemporary, modern-day temple," Raju Shroff, a trustee of the Sindhi Guru Darbar temple that will oversee the construction work, told The National.

“In this city that is all about hustle and bustle, we have tried to create a feel of serenity and calmness when you come to prayer.

“We have used earthy and natural colours so your mind is at peace. There will be a lot of natural light because of the huge skylight.”

This is the second Hindu temple being built in the UAE.

Unlike the temple being constructed in Abu Dhabi, for which hand carvings are being sculpted in Indian towns, work on the Dubai temple will be done in the emirate.

“Our design and inspiration is from here. The facade is with Saudi/Jordanian stone and it is inspired by the Arabian mashrabiya design,” Mr Shroff said.

“We are doing everything in Dubai. Only the murtis (deities) will be from the India.”

The temple will be housed on the upper level with a community centre on the lower section.

Outer structural work is being undertaken on the Jebel Ali site.

Work on two basements and the ground floor of the single-storey structure has been completed.

Sculptures of the Hindu deities Shiv, Hanuman, Ganesh and others will be placed in the prayer hall.

On the ground floor, the main community area will cover about 370 square metres. It can be used for weddings, child-naming ceremonies and condolence gatherings.

Another small area will be allocated for dance, music and art classes.

"We are expecting people to use this on a daily basis, not just on weekends and we want to give it a community feel,” Mr Shroff said.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the temple took place last year and the foundation stone was laid in August.

The temple is being built in an area near a popular Sikh shrine in Jebel Ali, where several Christian churches are located.

The Sindhi Guru Darbar temple trust also runs two Hindu shrine in small buildings in Bur Dubai.

Trustees said the shrine was testimony to the inclusive approach of the UAE leaders.

“It could not have been possible without the generosity and open-mindedness of the Rulers of the UAE, and the overwhelming support of the Community Development Authority, Dubai,” the trust said.

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Company%20profile
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yallacompare profile

Date of launch: 2014

Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer

Based: Media City, Dubai 

Sector: Financial services

Size: 120 employees

Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)

The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chad%20Stahelski%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Keanu%20Reeves%2C%20Laurence%20Fishburne%2C%20George%20Georgiou%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

India squads

Test squad against Afghanistan: Rahane (c), Dhawan, Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Karun, Saha, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Umesh, Shami, Pandya, Ishant, Thakur.

T20 squad against Ireland and England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Raina, Pandey, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh.

ODI squad against England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Shreyas, Rayudu, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh

The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli

Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000

Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km

RESULTS

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, Andrea Atzeni, Charles Hills
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: New Trails, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Mnasek, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: D’bai, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Summer Romance, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

IPL 2018 FINAL

Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)

Chennai win by eight wickets

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor